§ Mr. Bishopasked the Prime Minister what Ministers and Departments are responsible for the budget on aerospace and civil and military aviation policy; and if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for a national aerospace policy.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for policy towards the aerospace industry generally and for expenditure on civil aerospace projects. The Secretary of State for Defence is responsible for military aerospace and for the Procurement Executive. The Science Research Council is responsible under the Secretary of State for Education and Science for expenditure on civil scientific space research.
Aerospace policy generally is co-ordinated through the normal inter-departmental machinery. In addition, the Ministerial Aerospace Board oversees collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade and Industry in civil aerospace matters and co-ordinates space procurement policy. These arrangements are working satisfactorily.